Kate Middleton dazzles in red sequined dress for palace reception

It's a night at the palace!

On Monday night, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge donned their evening best for a reception at Buckingham Palace in honor of the United Kingdom-Africa Investment Summit. Hosted on behalf of Queen Elizabeth to promote the UK's relationship with the continent, the reception was also joined by Prince Edward, Princess Anne and the Countess of Wessex.

While Prince William looked polished in a blue suit, it was Kate who stole the show in a sparkly red number from British label Needle & Thread. You can shop a shorter version of the dress for $519 at Net-a-Porter here.

The duchess accessorized her look with Gianvito Rossi pumps and a clutch by Jenny Packham.

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“The summit will demonstrate the strength of the relationship between the U.K. and Africa, showcase and promote the breadth and quality of investment opportunities across Africa, and highlight the U.K.’s commitment to supporting economic development in Africa, including through the creation of jobs and new partnerships,” Kensington Palace described in a statement.

While Africa has been the subject of much of the royal family's philanthropic work, it's a particularly special place for Prince Harry and Prince William, who retreated to the continent after the death of Princess Diana. It's also where the Duke of Cambridge proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010 after years of dating.

“The African continent holds a very special place in my heart," Prince William told guests at Monday evening's reception. "It is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died. And when deciding where best to propose to Catherine, I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee.”

While Prince Harry took part in the summit earlier in the day, he was not present at the reception: He was spotted arriving at Vancouver Island later that evening.